Snap-hook



(No Model.)

J.OLARY.

SNAP HOOK, No. 456,137. Patented July 21, 1891.

1 Wit asses: 1 1 81, 151 Jbim 01a 27 i Ey%1 lflfim eys, I j 1 h ,NITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OLARY, OF l/VESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,137, dated July 21,1891.

Application filed January 28, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN CLARY, a citizen of the United States, residingat WVestfield, in the county of l-Iampdcn and State of Massachusetts,have invented a new and useful Snap-Hook, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to snap-hooks for harness, &c., and the object inview is to provide a cheap and simple snap-hook that is easily connectedand disconnected, and that may be securely maintained either open orclosed.

\Vith the above objects in view the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction, hereinafter specified, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a snap-hookconstructed in accordance with my invention, showing it open. Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal section of the same when closed. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the hook closed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view oflocking-lever. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of the sliding ring.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spring.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In practicing my invention I construct the shank 1 of metal and bend thesame at its front end to form the hook 2, which extends up and over theshank, and at its rear end said shank is bent either to form thecircular eye 3 shown in full lines or the lateral loop shown by dottedlines, in accordance with whether the hook is to be used in connectionwith the strap of a harness or a rope. The upper side of the shank isprovided with an oblong recess 4, and through the same near its rear endis passed a pivot-screw 5.

The snap-lever has its under side curved, as shown, and is tapered uponits front end to form a finger 6, the opposite sides of which at itsfront edge are beveled, as at 7, to en gage and fit Within a V-shapednotch 8, formed at the extremity of the hook. Immediately in rear of thefinger the lever is provided upon its upper side with a fiat seat 9, inrear of which is a curved shoulder 10, and in rear of the shoulder, atthe rear extremity of the lever, there is an inclined shoulder 12. Anelongated slot 13 is formed in the levera Serial No 379,439. (No model.)

short distance in front of the inclined shoulder 12, and through thesame a pivot-screw5 passes.

14 designates a fiat bow-shaped spring, the terminals of which rest uponthe bottom of the recess, and the curved upper side of which restsagainst the under side of the lever in front of its pivot.

15 designates in this instance a cylindrical ring or ferrule having amilled outer edge or perimeter, and mounted for sliding upon the shankland the upper edge of the lever.

In operation, by drawing the ring or ferrule to the rear the same comesin contact with the inclined shoulder at the rear end of the lever andin rear of the pivot-screw and causes the lever to tilt to the'rear, inwhich position it is held .by the ring, and thus withdraws the finger ofthe lever from the hook, and the latter is opened and ready forengagement with a ring or other device. By sliding the ring to theopposite end of the tank to the seat 6 the lever is closed against thehook and the beveled edge of the lever rests within the V-shaped recessof the hook. 4

In this position the ring is locked by means of the inclined centralshoulder of the lever in rear of the seat, aided by the bow-shapedspring within the recess, which latter serves to force the lever out oftherecess and against the ring, thus placing the latter under tensionand preventing theosame from being slid by accident either to open orclose the hook. Asnap-hook thus constructed will be found to possessnumerous advantages, in that it maybe positively locked either open orclosed, and cannot by any possible accident or movements of an animalbecome disengaged or have its position altered, so that many accidentsresulting from such accidental displacements of snap-hooks may beavoided.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The herein-describedsnap-hook, consisting of the shank bent at one end to form a hook, saidshank being provided in rear of and in line with the hookwith a recess,a lever pivoted between its ends within the recess and having its outeredge extending therefrom and its end adapted to close the hook, and aring loosely mounted upon the shank and lover and adapted for sliding toopposite sides of the pivot of the lever, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-d escribed snap-hook, consisting of a cylindrical shankterminating at one end in an eye and at its opposite end in a hook andprovided upon its upper side with a recess,a lever pivoted near its rearend in the recess and having an elongated opening for the reception ofthe pivot, said lever having an upwardly extending finger adapted toclose the hook and provided with opposite beveled edges for engagingWith a notch in the end of the hook, and in rear of the finger providedwith a flat seat, in rear of the seat with a rounded shoulder, and atthe rear eX- tremity of the lever with an inclined shoulder, a bowedspring having its terminals resting on the bottom of the recess and itscentral portion against the lower edge of the lever, and a ring looselymounted upon the shank and the lever and under tension by the spring,substantially as specified.

The herein-described snap-hook, consisting of the shank terminating atone end in a hook, a lever pivoted upon the shank in rear of and in linewith the hook and adapted to close the latter, a spring interposedbetween the lever and shank, and a ring mounted for sliding upon theshank and the lever and adapted to compress the latter against thespring and into a locked posit-ion with the hook, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ()LAR'Y.

Witnesses:

JOHN SLOAT, W. I). CLARY.

